Ballard: No plans to change Forreston VFD

Friday

Aug 19, 2011 at 12:01 AM

By ANDREW BRANCADaily Light staff writer

Commissioners on the Emergency Service District (ESD) No. 6 board say they have no plans to close the Forreston fire station or to relocate its equipment despite recent rumors – and they’re encouraging residents to come to the next board meeting Sept. 12 to address their concerns.

“This came to my attention through a resident in the Forreston area that contacted me. We are not going to shut down the fire station because they are an integral part of the service providers in this district for the taxpayers if they had an emergency,” board president Wayne Ballard said. “As far as this board is presently concerned, nor do we have any intention of moving equipment from Forreston up to ESD No. 6 station (in Waxahachie).”

Ballard said the fire protection that taxpayers pay for and are asking to be provided “is not going to stop.”

“It is not going to be interrupted, it is not going to be suspended, no matter what anybody tells you,” he said.

Ballard described the volunteers manning both stations as “dedicated, professional and highly trained individuals who are able to handle structure fires, vehicle accidents and medical calls.” Both stations include personnel who are former, retired or active municipal firefighters, all of who volunteer time on their days off, he said.

Ballard said the issue concerning the relocation of the Forreston fire station equipment will be discussed at the next meeting at the request of Forreston Volunteer Fire Department president Floyd McBride. It is a non-action item and listed for discussion only on the agenda.

The meeting is at 6:30 p.m. Sept. 12 at the new fire station for ESD No. 6, located at 1816 Farm-to-Market Road 66 in Waxahachie. A sign off of FM 66 marks the entrance of the station. Residents are encourage to arrive early if they wish to visit with commissioners and firefighters or if they want to fill out a public participation form to speak during the meeting.

“Rest assured, we are not shutting the Forreston fire station down and we are not moving that equipment up here to ESD No. 6,” Ballard said. “Service is not going to be interrupted anywhere in this county. We are going to respond to the needs of the taxpayers, whether it is an emergency medical call, structure fire or a grass fire.”

The agenda will be posted three days prior to the meeting on the information board at the southeast entrance of the historic Ellis County Courthouse, located at 101 W. Main St. in downtown Waxahachie.

For any questions or concerns, Ballard can be reached at 469-383-0646.

Contact Andrew at andrew.branca@wninews.com or 469-517-1451.

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